Careers at American Family Children's Hospital

Nursing at American Family Children's Hospital

American Family Children's Hospital combines the friendliness of a small pediatric hospital with the advanced care and expertise of more than 50 pediatric specialists. It is known nationwide for treating children with diseases such as diabetes, cystic fibrosis, heart problems and cancer.

Meet Our Nurses

Two American Family Children's Hospital nurses, both 2012 UW Hospital and Clinics Nursing and Patient Care Excellence award winners, talk about their work.

This is a six-suite operating room and two-procedure room unit that provides care of pediatric surgical patients undergoing inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures. Nurses are an integral part of the surgical team that performs nearly 5,000 multispecialty procedures each year.

American Family Children's Hospital Post Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU)

This 10-bay unit provides immediate post-surgical care for pediatric patients who undergo surgery. Nurse clinicians are responsible for assessing, diagnosing, intervening, evaluating, coordinating and facilitating the concentrated care necessary in the immediate post-anesthetic period for a multivaried surgical pediatric patient population. Each pediatric patient receives continuous monitoring and observation as they emerge from the affects of sedation/anesthesia. Airway and pain management are a priority. Nurse clinicians work closely with their surgical and anesthesia colleagues to identify the most appropriate plan of care for the pediatric patient. Nurse clinician to patient staffing ratio is one-to-one providing the utmost in individual attention to each pediatric patient.

P4 Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Neuroscience, ENT and Plastics Unit

Nurses on this 16-bed unit care for children from infancy through adolescence and deliver care through the Primary Nursing Care Delivery Model. Included on this unit is a four-bed segregated transplant area for the children who are highly immunocompromised. Nurses will provide care to children receiving state-of-the-art therapy for hematology, oncology and immunology diagnosis. These treatments include MIBG and hematopoetic transplant. In addition, nurses care for children and adolescents requiring medical and surgical interventions for complex neurological, plastic and ear nose and throat diagnosis. The nursing staff on this unit provides a holistic and integrative approach to care which creates an environment that fosters opportunities for normalized growth and development. Through school and daily recreation programs, open visitation for parents, siblings, relatives and friends, rooming-in for a family member who wants to stay overnight. Nurses facilitate active participation of patients and family members in treatment and care. In addition, Madison area’s only approved hospital school is housed adjacent to this unit.

P5 General Pediatric Medical and Surgical Unit

The General Pediatric Medical and Surgical Unit is a 24-bed, high-acuity unit that provides many opportunities for nurses who are interested in caring for children. Nurses care for children from newborn to the adolescence who have a wide variety of complex medical and surgical problems, including organ transplantation, congenital anomalies, pulmonary disorders, renal disorders, cardiovascular defects, esophageal reflux, diabetes, trauma, urology surgical repairs, ventilator dependent patients, and patients with a tracheotomy. The care that is given is customized to the individual patients and family's physiological, emotional, cultural and spiritual needs. Our focus is health-orientated. We will work in a collaborative manner by using our cutting-edge skills in assessments, interventions and treatment to restore our children and their family to their highest level of recovery. The nurse works very closely with a multidisciplinary team which includes physicians, respiratory therapy, physical therapy, psychology, surgeons, case managers, social workers and Child Life specialists to coordinate a holistic plan of care for the patient and family.

With eight outpatient locations that feature general pediatric nursing positions, you are sure to find a match on both a personal and professional level. Our outpatient and specialty clinics are interspersed throughout Madison and the surrounding areas, which provides you with a distinct geographical advantage. You will be able to work in the community where you live and use yours skill and expertise to improve the lives of your friends and neighbors.

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